2014 Home, Lawn & Garden

&

home, lawn

The Herald ■ YO U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 8 9 5 D U B O I S C O U N T Y H E R A L D. C O M

DUBOIS COUNTY, INDIANA FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014 SECTION B

garden

PAGE 2 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

Landscape curbing can be used to enhance to a yard’s aesthetics.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LANDSCAPE’S EDGE LLC

Add decorative curb to up curb appeal

By MICHAEL MAZUR Special Sections Writer FERDINAND — You work hard enriching your landscape, planting flower and shrub borders or cutting out a walkway to create a peaceful haven and present beautiful curb appeal.

In order to keep those areas neat and clean, keeping the mulch or stone beds separated from the lawn, you install a landscape edge using old bricks or stone, new pavers or cottage stone, treated lumber, old railroad ties, plastic or metal edging.

However, there is another way that has been around for awhile — landscape curbing. It is an extrusion process that forms a continuous curb of concrete following the flowing curves and shapes of your landscape.

Homeowners can choose from a selection of border styles, such as a 6-inch-by-4-inch standard curb, a mower’s edge curve and an angled curb. Besides the plain cement border in the natural color of concrete, the curb styles can have a pattern applied resembling brick, slate, random rock or cobblestone.

Color additives such as sunset rose, sandstone, mocha, tile red, sierra and taupe can be added to the cement as it is being mixed to give a permanent color deep into the cement. If the cement gets chipped, the same color is revealed instead of the natural color of concrete.

“It blends in better,” said Scott Weyer, who co-owns Landscape’s Edge LLC with his brother, Jason Weyer The Weyer brothers have been creating curbed borders for residential and commercial customers since 2006, buying the business from there uncle, Gary Weyer.

Scott learned the operation not only from working with his uncle,

but by attending instructional classes sponsored by the curb machine manufacturer. He once placed second in a curb-making competition at a Louisville home and garden show.

Not only have the Weyers formed borders for the usual landscape areas, they also were hired to do work in some unexpected places, creating landscape borders indoors, creating a channel for a drain spout and creating a shower basin in one homeowner’s basement.

“Yeah, we carried the machine downstairs and poured the border for the shower,” Jason said.

The Weyers “walk the grounds” with the home or business owner, asking what they want while looking for any trouble spots like roots protruding from the ground, deep holes and odd shapes in the border. They then make suggestions.

Scott said that they stay away from areas with trees or shrubs with large roots, especially those with roots exposed above ground, because those roots will eventually damage the concrete curb.

With a sod cutter and rake, they prepare the ground by removing the grass and leveling the surface to be poured. A shallow cut is made, just deep enough to pour the curb. The homeowner needs to make sure there are no underground lines or wires in the work area.

The concrete is mixed onsite, wheeled to the curb machine and poured into a hopper where it will be extruded from the curb machine as it is propelled alongside the border.

Because cement will eventually crack, usually from ground movement, control joints are cut every 3 to 5 feet to adjust for areas under heavy traffic or where a tight curvature might present more stress on the concrete.

“If the concrete is going to crack, you want it to crack where you have planned (for) it to crack,” Scott said.

When the concrete cracks at the “man-made weak spot” it is more of a straight crack. Cracks at a joint leave an unsightly jagged break.

If a customer chooses a stamped pattern, the patterns is applied every 20 feet. The Aussie cobblestone pattern is the most popular with clients.

As a special touch when pouring a red brick-faced landscape border for a church, they stamped a cross every few feet and painted the brick mortar lines and crosses the same color to highlight the crosses.

Once the border is finished, a cement trowel is used to clean the slight lip of cement the extrusion process leaves on the edge of the curb. Homeowners are asked to pick up the cement after it hardens because attempting to pick up wet cement can create a mess.

An initial light coat of sealer is applied, helping to prevent damage caused by a light rain and insects. Plastic sheeting can be place above the cement to prevent damage during heavy rain.

One time, as the Weyers were pouring the south side of a residence, birds danced on the north section they’d just poured, leaving their dance steps imprinted on the curb border.

Since dogs and cats don’t know

the difference between old or newly poured cement, the Weyers recommend keeping pets away from the border and to set up. It usually takes four to five days for the cement to cure enough to work around, according to Jason.

Because the Weyers know some homeowners are anxious to begin laying mulch or stone in planting beds, they recommend the home owner lay mulch ahead of time.

If they start before the concrete is hard enough, footprints and tire prints from a wheelbarrow can be left on the cement.

It takes about 30 days for the cement to fully cure. At that time, a final sealer is applied. It’s up to the customer to choose to have a sheen applied on the curb surface or to let it weather naturally.

Along with adding a flowing design to your landscape, the con-

tinuous border and weight of the cement creates a strong barrier that helps to contain weeds from spreading into your flower beds, Jason said.

An average job for the Weyers — about 200 linear feet — can usually be completed in a day. Cost is by the foot and depends on whether a customer chooses the natural cement color or wants a specific color added and a stamped pattern as well as the difficulty of the terrain.

Using a curb in your curb appeal is another expressive way to showcase flower beds and borders, a flag pole or to highlight a single specimen tree or shrub.

It could be contagious. The Weyers, Jason said, once spent five weeks working in one subdivision as neighbor after neighbor liked the look.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 3

10 steps to creating organized kitchen

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com The best kitchens not only look beautiful but also function beautifully, making it easier for you to find the saucepan you need, as well as its lid. You don’t want to heft a big pile of heavy platters to try to slide out the lasagna pan from the bottom, and you certainly don’t want to waste money when food spoils in your refrigerator because you couldn’t see what was in that baggie or foil-covered dish until weeks after it had gone bad.

Solve all of these problems, and others, by giving your kitchen an organization makeover. Here are 10 steps to achieving an organized, functional kitchen that’s also beautiful: 1) Make it a multi-day project.

Tackle one section of your kitchen at a time (such as your pantry on one day, your cabinets above the counter on another day, etc.) rather than pulling out everything in all of your drawers, cabinets and the refrigerator, thinking you can get the job done in one shot. That’s far too overwhelming, and with every surface covered as you try to do it all at once, your kitchen will be rendered useless for perhaps several days. Plus, doing one section at a time gives you that wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you get each smaller area completed, creating momentum and keeping you fresh and energetic to do the jobs well.

2) Stock up on terrific organization products. Julie Morgenstern, author of “Organizing From the Inside Out,” says to “use spacesavers to stretch storage capacity within each section.” Morgenstern suggests utilizing the following: ■■ Wire shelves that “take advantage of wasted space between widely spaced shelves,” and can also be door-mounted to hold pantry food items. Narrow wire shelves can also be found with magnetic backings to hang on the sides of your refrigerator to hold small items.

■■ Hooks mounted under shelves on which to hang coffee mugs (thus opening up space inside cabinets).

■■ Lazy Susans placed on shelves and in cabinets to hold spices, canned goods and cups.

■■ Drawer dividers to keep utensils in their place.

■■ Clear storage containers with lids — lots of them — for storing bulk-buy foods or leftovers in the refrigerator so that you can easily see that delicious leftover shrimp and enjoy it the next day, instead of noticing a smell a week later and having to throw out $25 worth of shrimp.

■■ A label-maker. A great one allows you to customize the font style and size, and labels peel off easily, making your storage containers easily identifiable.

3) Map out your kitchen’s zones to help you reposition items for each section’s function. Morgenstern suggests the following Zones: daily dishes, food preparation, cooking, cleanup and recycling. While working on, say, your

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pantry, you may find an item for “cleanup.” Just move it to that done or undone area as you go.

And a new zone established for baking allows all of your baking tasks to be much more streamlined and enjoyable.

4) Before you begin your first kitchen section, set up large, trash bag-lined bins or sturdy boxes labeled; “toss,” in which you’ll deposit old sauces, spices and unusable items; “donate,” in which you’ll deposit canned goods, dishes and other items that can be used or sold at a mission or shelter; or “store,” in which you’ll deposit items that you use rarely and are better stored in your basement.

5) Remove everything from the pantry or cabinet you’re tackling,

and first give your shelves a good cleaning and fresh, clean liner paper in a color or pattern you love.

Shelf or drawer liners set a foundation for your kitchen’s makeover.

6) Change your drawers plan. If you previously stored all of your utensils in one drawer, switch to one drawer for everyday eating utensils and most-often-used gadgets. Then the next drawer can hold your larger cooking and baking utensils.

7) Go vertical. Try stacking your cookbooks flat, instead of standing on end, to use more vertical space and create a new and attractive display of those books you use often. Store books you haven’t used in the past three years elsewhere or donate those that are unwanted.

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8) Remove clutter. Morgenstern says, “Deport tchotchkes to create room for food prep,” and “banish surface clutter so your space feels clean and welcoming.”

If you’d love for your collectibles to remain on display, switch their position to a narrow wall or magnetic fridge rack, clearing your counter.

9) Remove as much from your refrigerator as possible. That means magnet-held coupons, relatives’ kids’ photos, outdated schedules and magnets from res-

taurants or the gutter cleaners.

It’s OK to have a little-item drawer if you’d like to have these items and pens on hand. But clearing your fridge creates a more polished look.

10) Set up a tech center, including your laptop and its stand, so that you can easily access recipes you’ve bookmarked or scanned into your system and your family’s activities calendar. A built-in desktop and chair make this zone comfy and modernize your kitchen’s functionality.

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PAGE 4 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

Wildflowers thrive in challenging circumstances

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com Lovely wildflowers grow in the most challenging of places. They often live in garden beds without high-quality soil, highway roads and even in pavement cracks. Garden experts say these blooms thrive on neglect. If you love the look of flowers, but don’t want to invest a lot of time on their care, you might wish to add a variety of wildflowers to your garden and grounds.

Understand, though, that it’s not as easy as scattering wildflower seeds onto a dirt patch and watching them magically grow.

There is a small level of effort involved: choosing a site with full to partial sun, removing from your garden bed any existing grass or weeds, keeping the seeds moist until growth is a few inches tall and adding a light mulch layer of straw, peat or compost to keep birds from eating your seeds, says Marie Iannotti, About.com gardening guide. You must give your seeds some kind of nurturing for them to grow to their full potential.

In addition to the burst of color soon to fill your garden, there are a few additional advantages to planting wildflowers native to your area. The U.S. Forest Service says that native plants: ■■ Do not require fertilizers and require fewer pesticides than lawns.

■■ Reduce air pollution. They remove carbon from the air.

■■ They give shelter and food for wildlife — providing nectar, pollen and seeds that native butterflies enjoy and will be drawn to.

■■ Help prevent erosion. Wildflowers have deep root systems and increase the soil’s capacity to store water. They can reduce water runoff and help prevent flooding.

■■ They can increase the value and sale possibilities of your home, if your house is on the market and your lovely wildflower garden impresses potential buyers.

What the U.S. Forest Service didn’t mention is that growing wildflowers is an easy project that children can get involved with,

KATE FREY/CREATORS.COM

Wildflowers add color and texture to your garden. from the growing to the harvesting stages. Seeds are inexpensive, so if your wildflower plantings for some reason do not thrive, you haven’t lost a fortune in purchases from your local nursery.

Speaking of your local nursery, they are an excellent source of information on which wildflowers are native to your area, and which specific wildflowers will grow best in the particular conditions of your garden. You might also check the websites of top flower seed companies, or visit Wildflower. org, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center dedicated to the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes.

Here are some of the top wild-

flowers to grow in your garden: ■■ If you wish to attract butterflies, plant black-eyed susans, cleome, cornflower, cosmos, yarrow or zinnia.

■■ If you wish to attract hummingbirds, plant cleome, garden columbine, nasturtium and zinnia.

■■ To attract beneficial insects to your garden, plant Bishop’s weed, caraway, Dill, fennel, globe candytuft, white Dutch clover and yarrow (attracts ladybugs).

Additional wildflowers to consider, according to your region’s hardiness zone and your garden center expert’s advice are Bachelor’s button, bergamot, Canada milk vetch, chicory, common milkweed, coreopsis, dotted mint, evening primrose, fawn lily, lobelia, marigold, morning glory, mountain mint, phlox, Queen Anne’s lace, red clover, rhododendron, smooth aster, sunflower, viburnum, wild Iris, wild petunia and wild sienna.

How much seed should you spread to grow a full, lush wildflower garden? Iannotti suggests a quarter pound per 1,000 square feet, or about a half-ounce per 100 square feet. She advises you sow seeds after all danger of frost has passed and remove weeds as you see them.

Soon, you’ll have a colorful wildflower garden and perhaps also enjoy the butterflies, hummingbirds and ladybugs they attract.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 5

Terrace great for breakfast, yoga or party

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com If your apartment or condo has a small terrace, the warm weather of spring and summer should ignite you to make the most of that great spot for entertaining (even if you just have space for two). Imagine stepping out onto your terrace to breathe in the fresh air, perhaps do your morning yoga, serve breakfast al fresco or welcome friends for a terrace cocktail party. Here are the top tips to make your small terrace an enjoyable extension of your home: ■■ Before you start planning your design makeover, it’s important to get permission from your building manager, as many buildings have strict rules about what can and can’t be changed. With permission granted, you may be able to remove rust and repaint your terrace for a fresh, clean, newer look.

■■ Choose a color palette. You might use the same color palette as your living room, so that the inside and outside share a spaceexpanding monochromatic look (a top trick of home designers for making spaces look roomier.)

Or, as SPG Architects’ design experts suggest, match the colors you see in the scenery and buildings around you, such as tan, brown and trendy gray neutrals.

Or, as Cortney Novogratz, host of HGTV’s “Home by Novogratz” says, choose bright colors. “To make your environment pop with character, invest your budget in bright throw pillows (and) a colorful carpet,” says Novogratz. Some of the top colors for outdoor living spaces include magentas, jeweltoned purples and blues and Caribbean-ocean blues. If you prefer a more Zen-like space, sage green shades are popular.

■■ Upgrade your seating. Add a small wrought iron bistro table and two matching chairs, or a brightly colored plastic Adirondack chair or two for reclining.

And include a low-set table for setting down drinks or your tablet next to your seats.

■■ Add flooring. An outdoor, weatherproof area rug adds comfort for your bare feet and the rug’s color, pattern and texture provide a fresh foundation for your new terrace style.

■■ Add storage. Outdoor-specified ottomans can open up for storage space during the warmer months and provide extra seating for guests.

■■ Bring in textiles. Colorful, patterned outdoor-designated pillows placed on each chair or bench add visual flair to your space, and your bistro table can call for a new, small tablecloth in touchable fabric, and coordinating color. And for cooler mornings or evenings, keep comfy throw blankets handy so that you and guests can enjoy the space even when there’s a breeze or chill in the air.

■■ Go green. Potted plants and flowers add life to small terrace spaces, whether set in planters on the ground or lining freestanding or hung shelves. You can also grow kitchen herbs in a planter for fresh ingredients in your foods and cocktails. One trend in garden design is the vertical wall ... a shelving unit that holds an impressive, lush collection of potted plants and flowers and stands tall against a sidewall of your terrace.

■■ Add lighting. Strung white lights add festive lighting to your space, and LED light cubes or flameless candles create a cozy, romantic and relaxing feel to your terrace, avoiding any potentially forbidden open-flame candles.

Some condo owners can install new lighting fixtures to modernize this space.

■■ Add sound. There’s no need to call in an electrician to wire your terrace for the piping-in of music. Small wireless speakers can be carried outside and placed on a shelf to add music to your space. (Just bring them inside after each use.)

■■ Accessorize. Novogratz suggests decorating with unusual art: “It doesn’t have to be expensive. Cool accessories help define a space in an exciting way.” Add outdoor-safe pottery pieces, in-

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Make a small terrace into a new and wonderful space for relaxing or entertaining. teresting stones or geodes and Etsy-finds such as stone coasters imprinted with botanical or seashell motifs. Wooden signs made from repurposed materials -- purchased or made by you -- add character and perhaps whimsy to your space. One trend in terrace signs

is wine-themed images resembling a wine barrel stamp. (And garden centers and vineyards also have wine barrels that can be used as tables themselves or as legs for a larger wood-topped table.)

Complete your terrace makeover by stocking up on one or

two matching sets of colorful melamine (or other unbreakable material) plates, bowls, glasses, pitchers and serving platters.

With your beautifully set table, you will be ready for a neighborhood party, a dinner for two or a calming night alone.

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PAGE 6 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

Peonies add beauty to garden, dining table

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com The soft, rounded, delicate petals of the peony make it one of the most popular flowers for gardens and romantic, ultra-feminine floral arrangements. The sumptuous layers of a peony make it a favorite for dinner party centerpiece flowers, especially since they are so easy to snip from your garden and arrange for an impressive décor highlight.

The experts at Gardener’s Supply Company say that peonies thrive almost anywhere in the country, surprisingly even in lows of 50 degrees.

A healthy, happy peony plant can bloom for 100 years or more without the need for specialized attention. It’s often a troublefree plant that can grow 50 peony flowers per bush, keeping you in great supply of these lovely blooms when you position them well and follow these easy care instructions.

Give them light The blog “Cricket Hill Garden” advises, “Before adding peonies to your landscape, the first consideration is whether the location has the right amount of sunlight.

Planted in the deep shade, almost all peonies will grow weakly.

Tree peonies will grow vigorously in the full sun, but the flowers fade quickly. Some cultivars are also susceptible to leaf scald in the summer sun. For these reasons, we recommend planting tree peonies in a partially shaded location. An eastern exposure or a location with dappled sunlight is ideal. Five to six hours of sun makes them grow well.”

Some peonies, such as herbaceous peonies, need “as close to a full day of sun as possible, or a minimum of six good hours of sun. Without this, they will be weak and not bloom well.” If you plant multiple types of peonies, aim for six hours of full sunlight for best results.

If you live in a hot climate, though, make sure your peonies have some shade during the hottest part of the day.

Soft, ruffly peonies are among the prettiest and most popular garden flowers.

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Give them air Peonies prefer well-drained soil and plenty of good air circulation so that they don’t develop a fungal disease called botrytis. Gardener’s Supply Company explains this disease as being a problem for weak plants. Your plants can also contract botrytis in cool and wet weather or from other infected nearby plants. You’ll know if your plants have botrytis if they have blackened buds and stems or are rotting at the plant base. Cut affected areas off and don’t compost them. The best way to avoid this fungal problem for your peonies is to plant them at proper spacing as advised for each peony type or plant and maintain your garden so that plants don’t overgrow into each other, preventing airflow.

Plant them deeply enough Again, follow plant instructions for putting bare-root peonies into the ground. Most often, a 12 inches to 18 inches hole is ideal. Before you place the plant in, use a garden fork to loosen the sides of the planting hole. Add a shovelful of

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compost and a handful of organic granular fertilizer to the bottom of the hole, and then add a shovelful of original soil. Build a cone of your treated soil inside the planting hole and position the peony plant on top with its roots hanging down the sides. Be sure the “eyes” or growth nodes at the base of the stem are positioned no deeper than 2 inches below the soil surface.

Planting deeper than that won’t likely kill the plant, but you won’t get many flowers. Some plants will grow, but produce no flowers.

Be patient “Peonies rarely bloom the first year after planting,” say the experts at Gardener’s Supply Company. It may take a year before you see flowers, but once they do begin to grow, you can expect many years of beautiful, lush peony flowers to cut and use as you wish.

Help your peony plants along with an annual feeding of organic, all-purpose fertilizer and a topdressing of compost, and keep mulch away from your plants’

bases to discourage disease or any slowdown in flower production.

You may need to trellis your plants, since peonies can be a bit heavy.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 7

Modern tubs longer, cleaner, freestanding

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com Bathrooms have become the new stars of home design. No longer just a place to shower, apply makeup and shave, the bathroom is the new oasis of the home, a place to relax and unwind. That is why spending on bathroom remodels is now almost on par with spending on kitchen remodels. Hamish Kofoed, design manager at Mico Designs Ltd., says, “Bathroom design trends for 2014 revolve around the bathroom as a sanctuary, with lush elegant lighting, rich stone and tile work, and luxuriantly deep freestanding tubs.

It’s all about luxury, color and a return to quality.”

“Freestanding tubs are the new must-have in the bathroom,” says Kofoed. “There’s great design flexibility in this area; anything goes, like modern fixtures with vintage claw-foot tubs.” And freestanding tubs serve as beautiful focal points that some designers say act as ‘art’ in the room. If a freestanding tub simply won’t work in your space, Kofoed suggests “a tiled or marble-frame (tub) semi-recessed into the floor to help free up visual space in the bathroom.”

Here are some of the top new trends in bathtub design for 2014: ■■ Soaking tubs. Not everyone wants or uses powerful massage jets positioned all around a tub’s interior. New shower designs with multiple jets offer that indulgence. A simple soaking experience can be far more relaxing.

One notable exception to this is the new class of gentle BubbleMassage air baths, in which thousands of warm-air-filled bubbles massage and support the entire body.

■■ Longer tubs. Tall people who have attempted to bathe in standard-sized tubs often find their soak to be less than pleasing because they have to bend their knees in order to recline into the water. Longer tubs allow for full stretch-out space for taller people — or room for two.

■■ Smaller tubs. For a second (or third) bathroom, such as one designated for kids, smaller dropin tubs add value to a home. This smaller tub might also be the perfect spot to bathe your dog, so as not to damage your master bathroom spotlight tub.

■■ Black tubs. Bathtubs in sleek black stole the show at the annual Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas. While many modern tub designs are in neutral tones, black tubs are in hot demand, especially when paired with new collections of black fixtures such as matte black chrome-plated faucets and handles.

■■ Whites and neutral colors.

As light colors, they give a rich, warm look to a room and, in a monochromatic color scheme, make a space look larger, reflect light and add to a bathroom’s ap-

Today’s new bathroom is a relaxing oasis.

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pearance of being clean and hygienic. Pantone’s annual home design color trend reports feature inspiring shades of the season’s stylish blush tones, ranges of whites and modern grays, as well as new brights to consider.

■■ Fluid curves. Modern faucets and handles are more rounded for a softer look than standard tub hardware of past eras. Faucets and handles, matching soap dishes, and nearby robe hooks and towel racks are artistic, spa-like and modern.

■■ Glass tile. Matt Muenster, a licensed contractor and host of the DIY Network’s “Bath Crashers” and “BATHtastic!,” says, “Recycled-glass tile gives this bathroom an underwater appearance” and reflects light for a brighter, airier appearance.

■■ Radiant heat. The flooring

around the tub and shower area can be designed with in-floor heating that warms the bathroom floor so that you never step out of a warm tub onto freezing tile.

Radiant heat is cost-effective and, when professionally installed, completely safe. A fireplace in the bathroom across from the tub could be another source of warmth and relaxation during a soak.

■■ Water-saving taps. In an effort to conserve water and spend less on utilities, homeowners are choosing water-saving faucets in tubs, as well as in showers.

■■ Clutter-free ledges. The ledges of today’s inset tubs are kept almost item-free, rather than lined with candles, soap dispensers and other items. To upgrade your existing bathroom right now at no expense, rid your tub’s ledges of

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PAGE 8 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

Seed or sod?

There is no wrong answer

By KRISTEN CASTILLO Creators.com Growing grass is challenging, time consuming and rewarding if you do it right. So should you plant seeds or lay down sod? It all depends on your budget and timetable for results. Planting seed is cheaper, but it takes time for the new grass to grow. Sod gets quick results, but it’s pricey.

Seeding know-how If you decide to plant seeds, know that you have to do a lot of prep work before you can spread the seed.

“It’s prepping the lawn area that takes time, and that comes down to how bad the existing surface is,” says David Marciniak, owner and lead designer at Revolutionary Gardens in McLean, Va. According to Scotts MiracleGro, a company that makes lawn, garden and outdoor living products, you need to rake the lawn to “rough up” the soil before applying seed so that the seedlings take root. Make sure the area is clean and free of debris and rocks.

The best time to plant grass is mid- to late-fall in temperate climates, says Marciniak, noting this timeframe gives seed “time to germinate and get established before entering winter dormancy.”

The next best time frame is early spring, but you have to consider the cold weather in a late winter or early heat in a warm spring.

“Weather is probably the biggest challenge,” says Marciniak.

“Rain can wash away the seed, heat can dry it out, and cold will prevent germination.”

Start planting How much seed will you need?

Check out online seed calculators on home improvement sites.

Once you have the seed, decide how you’re going to spread it. Using a wheeled spreader to distribute the seed works best for large areas. But it’s not the only option.

“When I’m doing a small patch, for example, a narrow strip along the edge of a new walkway, I’ll scatter seed by hand,” says Marciniak. “For a slightly larger area, they make hoppers where you hold it with one hand and crank it with the other. It gives more even coverage than hand seeding.”

No matter how you do the seeding, don’t overdo it. Scotts Miracle-Gro encourages adjusting the spreader settings so the seed will be evenly and adequately dispersed. Too much seed often results in poor grass growth.

While it might be tempting to drench the new grass with water, it’s a better idea to “water gently but not deeply” until the grass is about two inches tall, says Scotts Miracle-Gro. Water consistently, about two times daily, to keep the soil moist.

New grass typically starts germinating within a week or two and grows well by weeks three and four.

Once your grass starts growing, don’t cut it too short. Doing so could mean your new lawn won’t be able to develop deep roots.

Laying sod When choosing to lay sod, you’re working with the same time frame as planting seeds. Optimal times are mid- to late-fall and again in spring. Prep the space the same

as you would for planting seeds.

Rake the area to make sure it’s free of leaves, clumps and debris.

The Home Depot Garden Club recommends laying sod on moist soil, says spokeswoman Margaret Watters. Start the job as soon as the sod arrives (usually it’s delivered on pallets).

Then lay the sod in rows perpendicular to the yard’s slope, starting against a straight edge like a sidewalk. By doing this, you’ll ensure the first row is straight, which will make it easier to keep all of the other pieces of sod in line.

Next up, roll out the sod and “butt it up tightly to the next piece, being very careful not to overlap pieces,” says Marciniak.

“When going around obstacles or beds, lay a piece bigger than you

It’s best to lay sod on moist soil so it won’t dry out.

THE HOME DEPOT CREATORS.COM

need and trim to fit.”

Use this piece of advice from Marciniak: Don’t use sod that’s smaller than one third of a full piece, because it tends to dry out fast.

The Home Depot advises using a roller to lightly compress the sod, which will help the roots

make contact with the soil. Be sure to water the sod within a halfhour of installation. That’ll keep the new grass from drying out.

“Sod is more forgiving of the weather, as it’s already germinated, but keeping it moist until it can root in is the biggest chal-

lenge,” says Marciniak.

Water the sod up to three times a day, but don’t let grass stay wet at night, when it’s more susceptible to disease. After a few weeks, mow the lawn, but not too short.

Fertilize it after six weeks.

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 9

Keep roof over your head with timely repairs

By CHELLE CORDERO Creators.com Most of us have heard the phrase “keeping a roof over our heads.” For many homeowners, that’s a literal concern. Household roofs experience weathering, falling debris, and wind or water damage. A roof may leak and require better insulation; supports might need replacing. Or a homeowner could want a new roof for purely aesthetic reasons.

Owens Corning, a well-known manufacturer of building products, offers some indications that your roof may need repair or replacement: ■■ Shingle edges are curled or shingle tabs are cupped, bald or cracked.

■■ Your roof is at least 20 years old, or other homes in the area that were built at the same time need roof repair.

■■ The roof looks worn, has dark (algae) streaks or has moss growing on it. Moss and algae can be removed, but it’s best to contact a professional contractor to avoid damage.

When choosing new roof materials, consider the slope (pitch) of the roof, sun exposure, local temperature, weather, storms and yearly climate. (Roofs with 25-percent slope or more are considered pitched.) Check for local ordinances and building and fire codes. On average, a new roof costs a homeowner anywhere from $7,000 to $36,000 without structural repairs or modifications, and the life expectancy and durability of the material should be considered.

Thanks to newer technology, many of the roofing materials that previously were not considered flame retardant are now treated to increase safety.

According to William A. Good, executive vice president of the National Roofing Contractors Association, all steep-slope roof systems have basic components: shingles, tile, slate or metal and the underlayment that protects the sheathing from weather; sheathing (boards attached to rafters to cover a house), rafters and trusses to support the sheathing; flashing used at joints to prevent leaks; and the roof’s ability to shed water.

Depending on the roof’s age, the existing material and the reason for the repair, a partial reroofing could be an option. While this may save money in immediate materials, there are other considerations. There are limits to the layers on the roof, and this might not expose problems with the sheathing or underlayment, and new and old color lots may not match. Consider both your short- and long-term savings and needs. Think about regional influences and budget when deciding on materials.

The most common and generally the least expensive pitched roof cover is the asphalt shingle, also called composition shingles.

Asphalt shingles are made with fiberglass, asphalt and tiny embedded stones that help protect the roof from the sun’s damaging rays. These roofs have an average life span of 15 to 20 years. The architectural asphalt shingle is a heavier version with fewer crevices for debris that lasts approximately 30 to 50 years.

Clay tiles come curved or flat, color-glazed and in a variety of

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Concrete tile is generally composed of cement, sand and water and is also very heavy. These tiles have a long lifespan of 30 to 40 years and are low maintenance and durable. Normally a class-A fire-rated roofing system, concrete tile is durable enough to walk on, energy-efficient and a natural insulation to noise.

Recyclable metal roofing materials include steel, aluminum, copper and alloy strips. Metal is fire-resistant, lightweight, nearly maintenance-free, energy efficient and durable — lasting 50 to 75 years.

Natural slate stone is fireproof

WIN HENDERSON/CREATORS.COM

and waterproof and is frequently used in historic homes. It requires little maintenance and has a long life span of up to as many as 200 years. Like clay tile, slate is a very heavy material. Metal and slate are among the most expensive of all roofing materials. Synthetic slate (rubber composite) is lighter and less expensive than natural stone and is made from recycled materials. It will last 40 to 60 years and is practically maintenance-free.

Wood shakes are resistant to rot, treated to be fire retardant and with proper maintenance will last as long as 30 to 50 years.

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Roofing shingles create a watertight, wind-resistant seal that protects a roof from environmental damage and add to the aesthetics of a home. surface textures. A clay tile roof could last as long as 100 years with low maintenance requirements and increased fire protection. Drawbacks to clay tiles in-

clude weight, which may require reinforcing roof trusses, fragility (they can break or chip if walked on or hit by tree branches) and cost.

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PAGE 10 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

Use green thumb to interest kids in gardening

By ERIC CHRISTENSEN Creators.com Many adults love gardening.

They enjoy the outdoors, the peace and the produce. But children view gardening differently: Some view the dirt and bugs as gross, while others think the long timeline and chore-like tasks are boring. But by making a few changes, adults can make gardening fun and educational for children.

Julia Parker-Dickerson, the youth education program director at the National Gardening Association, says the key is to “let children express their ideas, to empower them and to let them create and envision something.”

Anne Gibson, the author of the “Sow Simple Guide to Growing an Abundant Edible Organic Garden” and the website TheMicroGardener.com, agrees, saying, “One of the most important keys to success with a child’s garden is allowing them to take ownership.”

Parker-Dickerson says one of the best ways to give children ownership of the garden is to “work with a child to help plan the garden. ... Look through seed catalogs or magazines with them.

Let the child do some artwork to envision a garden.” Gibson suggests incorporating color and creativity. “Let children choose their own pot, paint or decorate it or make a sign to brighten up their special space. A favorite toy they no longer use may make a perfect repurposed shallow garden bed.”

Gibson also points out that children are also more likely to use child-sized tools.

Try planting a rainbow of colors and mixing flowers with produce. Parker-Dickerson says, “Planting a rainbow of vegetables and fruits can help a child eat a variety of foods, or at least give them an opportunity to try them out. Children are far more likely to eat produce they grow themselves.” Gibson says, “Flowers on the other hand add color, fragrance, beauty and bring in pollinating insects, like bees that help increase the yield of food crops, and predator insects that reduce pests.” Parker-Dickerson adds, “This gives children a better understanding of an ecosystem as a whole. They get to see in one place that things are dependent on one another. ... Respect for life is a hugely valuable lesson.”

Planning and planting are very exciting, but children can often grow bored with gardening before harvesting. Gibson suggests incorporating bean sprouts because “They are so easy to grow and mature in a matter of days.”

Similarly, “Include cut-and-come again lettuces, radishes, beans and peas, rainbow chard, herbs (especially lemon balm and mint) and edible flowers.” Additionally, use “succession planting” (sowing small amounts often) to help children maintain interest.

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JULIA PARKER-DICKERSON/CREATORS.COM

In this fast-paced world of instant gratification, gardening teaches children lessons that few things can.

Parker-Dickerson says, “If a child has a particular job in the garden, then they often feel a sense of ownership and obligation. The garden is theirs and the consequences are obvious.” But Gibson warns against referring to these tasks as jobs or work.

Instead, create games to encourage consistency and conversation.

Ask children how many weeds did they pulled or how many pollinators they spotted. Encourage them to name their plants, and then ask about those plants by name. Post a checklist on the refrigerator.

Gibson also reminds parents, “Enthusiasm and praise for a job well done work wonders.”

Finally, plan for success, but do not worry about mistakes or fail-

ure. Gibson warns against using “out-of-date seeds or unhealthy seedlings,” and she adds, “Know what to plant when in your climate zone so the children enjoy the experience and have the best chance of success.” But if things go wrong, Parker-Dickerson suggests using it as a life lesson. “If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s completely OK, and best to admit, that you don’t know.

If you’re working with a child, say, ‘Let’s work together.’” Take your child to a library or garden center and letting him or her ask the questions. “Empower them to talk to somebody about plants.”

The key, Parker-Dickerson says is “staying positive and staying curious.”

By using this tips, gardening can be a fun way for children learn. Gibson says, “A garden — no matter how small — can help children connect with nature, stimulate their imagination,

learn new skills, become more observant and patient and have an appreciation for all sorts of creatures.” Parker-Dickerson says these are all “fundamental lessons for a human being.”

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 11

Design tricks make bedrooms look bigger

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com All of the bedrooms in your home can look and feel larger and airier, without the enormous task of knocking down walls or undertaking a huge construction job. It just takes a few easy and often inexpensive interior design tricks to make it seem like you have higher ceilings and lots of extra space.

Here are the top tips for making your bedrooms look and feel bigger: ■■ Choose beautiful wall colors. Stephanie Saul, design blogger at the Fab You Bliss website, says, “Light and brightly colored walls are more reflective, so painting your small room with such colors can go miles in making a space feel open and airy.”

Saul says that lighter, more neutral colors open up a room, while dark hues tend to make a room feel smaller than it is. Cool colors like champagne, light yellow, light blue and light lavender can make the walls appear to recede and the room looks larger. White can be too stark for walls, but a white or ecru shade on the ceiling creates the illusion that the ceiling is higher up.

■■ The design experts at Lowe’s website suggest using a monochromatic color scheme on bed linens, rugs, walls and furniture. “Select different shades and textures of your single color,” they say. When there’s less contrast between colors on the larger elements of the room — walls, bed, furniture — the eye blurs the dimensions of the room instead of seeing blocky colors that minimize the space.

HOME-DESIGNING/CREATORS.COM

An area rug can help create the illusion that your bedroom is larger than the room’s measurements show.

■■ Use lots of glass. Saul suggests a glass coffee table, since glass tables reflect light and “help maintain a sense of airiness in the room.” And decor elements made of glass, including lamps with glass accents on the base, also work toward enlarging the space.

■■ Hang mirrors. By reflecting

light coming in from windows and from lighting fixtures and lamps, mirrors can create a spacious look, especially when hung across from each other on opposite walls.

Saul says that a mirror hung in a dark corner isn’t ideal, so look for the lighter spaces in the room and let a mirror work magic there.

■■ Add more light. Wall sconces, skylights and torchieres can open up a room. Hanging a pretty chandelier above the bed or over a sitting space by windows has become trendy. And switch from heavy curtains to sheers so that more natural light can get in through the windows.

■■ Choose light-colored flooring. Lowe’s design experts say that light oak or a light-colored carpet can make a room look bigger and brighter, whereas a dark rug and dark hardwood floors work against your space-creating efforts.

■■ Choose furniture in ideal sizes. A big, heavy dresser will shrink the space and may create an unbalanced feel in a room filled with smaller pieces. A king-size bed still has a place in a bedroom, since all of these steps create the effect of added space.

■■ Use round furniture. Saul says that round pieces can “cut the rigidness and allow for more flow in the room.” Bedside and coffee tables should be rounded, as should chair arms and the shape of the headboard.

■■ Choose one big piece of artwork, rather than lots of smaller framed pieces. The Lowe’s team says that one large painting adds visual interest without a cluttered effect.

■■ Eliminate clutter. Remove all tchotchkes and small frames from dressers, tables and shelving units, and store them in a collectibles box out of sight. Organize books on bookshelves as well to create orderly stacks, and if possible, display only books in lighter, neutral colors that coordinate with the monochromatic colors of your room. Brighter and darker books can be stored away.

■■ And always keep bedrooms neat, with shoes, clothing and toys put away in closets and storage bins. This clean appearance goes a long way in making bedrooms appear larger.

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PAGE 12 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

BRING ON SPRING! Everything for you Weekend Warriors!

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 13

Spring Flowers…

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PAGE 14 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 15

Clean air units save money and energy

By KRISTEN CASTILLO Creators.com Air conditioning is a relief on a hot, humid day. So you want to ensure your AC unit is working well.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America says the HVAC system (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) is “most likely the single biggest use of energy in your home.”

Since energy use is expensive, efficient energy use from your AC means lower bills.

“Just like going to the doctor for a regular physical checkup can help you catch issues before they’re too large to easily fix, regular AC checkups are fundamentally important in maintaining your system’s performance,” says Konrad Witek, the director of engineering for eComfort.com, an online retailer of heating and cooling equipment.

Regular checkups and maintenance can help you avoid potential problems with your AC unit. For example, dirty AC coils trap dirt, debris and mold, which can end up in the air you breathe; clogged drains back up and leak into your home; old or bad wiring could result in a house fire.

Overall, maintaining your air conditioner can give you quality indoor air and help you save energy and money. It also gives you peace of mind that your system is safe.

Plus, regular checkups help protect your manufacturer’s warranty.

“HVAC tune-ups should be done at least twice a year,” says Brandi Andrews, owner of NationalAirWarehouse.com. “This is especially important because most manufacturers will void your warranty if you don’t have

controls are working properly.

After the checkup, the technician will let you know about any recommended repairs, which can be made at additional expense.

A professional should do most AC maintenance, but there’s an easy fix that you can do frequently.

“The best ‘tune-up’ a consumer can get is one they do themselves, which is regular air filter changes to keep adequate air flowing across the indoor coil,” says Kevin Konnis of Quantum Climate Control Services, who recommends using a low-cost pleated filter that can be changed monthly during heavy summer use.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can improve your AC’s energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent just by replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one.

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An air conditioner installer performs a maintenance tune-up on a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. written proof of at least two maintenance tune-ups per year.”

While you can have an AC checkup at any time, it’s most common to get one at the start of the cooling season (pre-summer) and again at the end of fall.

The checkups typically last one to two hours and “will ensure the

refrigerant circuit is free of leaks or blockages; make sure all fans and blowers are free of obstructions and operating correctly; ensure filters are clean,” says Witek, who explains that the technician also will check for proper air flow, look for clean condenser and evaporator coils and make sure

Marathon’s Envirofoam insulation keeps hot water hot, much longer than any other water heater and because it has a plastic tank, it can’t rust or corrode. The Lifetime Tank Warranty will save you the future expense of buying a replacement heater and having it installed.

Wet basements often unusable A wet basement can make your basement practically unusable.

A flooded basement can cause severe water damage. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth that can infect your entire home and lead to medical problems in your family. Airborne mold and mildew can cause major respiratory illnesses. Fortunately, there are a number of remedies to clean a wet basement and prevent one in the first place. Waterproofing solutions can vary in complexity and cost. Depending on the severity of the basement’s moisture

problems, the solutions can range from simply installing a dehumidifier to installing a perimeter drain around exterior of the basement foundation.

Major causes of wet basements Rain runoff water from the roof can find its way into your basement if gutters are not used or if the soil surface is not sloped appropriately away from the home. Moreover, clogged gutters can lead to wet basements.

Wet basements can also occur if the home is located in a high water table area. A high water table means that the home’s foundation footings are situated in such a way

Dehumidifier installation If you simply have high humidity levels in your basement, you can install a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture levels. Just make sure to buy a dehumidifier large enough to handle the size of the basement. Also, you may want

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that they’re nearly at the level where water remains constant year-round.

Consequently, after a good rain, the water table could rise sufficiently to cause water to seep in between the foundation walls and footings.

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By MARK J. DONOVAN Creators.com

your air conditioning unit to get the system serviced. Regular checkups and maintenance can “add several years to the life of an HVAC system,” says Andrews.

Those checkups are likely worth the cost. For example, according to ACCA, many manufacturers estimate that a 10 percent refrigerant loss could mean your system will be 20 percent less efficient. That’s wasted money, especially if you could have prevented the issue with regular checkups.

“On average, an air conditioner tune-up will cost in the range of $79.99 to $129.99,” says Andrews.

“You can always look online for specials and promotions from local companies to get lower rates.”

Be wary of pricing specials and deals, though. A cheap tune-up, like a $20 checkup, often results in a sales pitch to upsell you on a new air conditioning system.

PAGE 16 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

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Offering proper foods in the correct feeders throughout the year will encourage a healthy, diverse bird population at your house.

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By DIANNE CROWN Creators.com Whether you enjoy bird-watching year round from the comfort of your den or take a steward’s role for threatened bird populations with supplemental feeding, a few simple guidelines will encourage your native species to stay nearby and thrive.

Wade Kammin, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, answers frequently asked questions for the warmer days ahead.

■■ Q. Should I feed just during harsh weather seasons when natural food supplies are reduced, or all year?

A. Feeding all year will bring people the greatest enjoyment.

Birds are not “dependent” on feeders, but they are a nice boost for birds during stressful times, including the spring-summer nesting season.

■■ Q. Does it matter what kind of food I put out?

A. Food definitely matters. The wrong foods will not bring in the species most people want to see.

Avoid blends with “filler grains,” such as milo, wheat or oats, as few birds will eat them. Instead, look for blends or single-ingredient bags of sunflower chips, peanuts, safflower, oil sunflower and suet.

■■ Q. Are some foods particularly important at certain times of the year?

A. Harsh weather isn’t the only stress for birds. Raising a family is also a high-energy ordeal. Many of the same high-fat foods used in winter (nuts, sunflower, safflower, suet) will be utilized during breeding season, as well. One additional requirement is calcium, needed for strong eggshell and bone development. Provide crushed, sterilized eggshells or oyster shells, or offer calcium-fortified bird-food blends.

■■ Q. What about water?

A. Food will be the biggest draw for many species, but fresh water will draw species for drinking and bathing to keep feathers clean and resilient, including those that may not eat seed. It is also a big boost in dry weather.

■■ Q. What is the best style of feeder?

A. Not all species like the same foods and feeders, so the more choices provided the more species one may see. For example, a woodpecker may love clinging to the side of a mesh-style peanut feeder and needs no perches, while a cardinal (who doesn’t cling well) would much rather sit on a wide,

flat tray feeder filled with safflower seed.

■■ Q. I have a tree as well as a tall pole where I can put feeders. What’s the best way to arrange a few different styles of feeders for the small gold finches, medium-sized wrens and nuthatches, and the bigger cardinals?

A. For viewing purposes, there are benefits to clustering feeders together. But overall, birds will be happier if they have a bit of space between feeders. Some species are more forgiving than others, and some experimentation may be needed in any given backyard.

■■ Q. Is there anything else I can do to attract birds to my yard?

A. Fresh food and water are just two of the four requirements for long-term bird survival. Shelter and places to raise young can be provided in the way of diverse plantings (trees, shrubs, vines, etc.) and via birdhouses, which double as winter sleeping spots.

In addition, part of being a good steward to nature is keeping bird-feeding stations clean. Dirty feeders are not good for birds.

We recommend washing feeders at least monthly with dish soap and a good scrub brush, followed by a bleach-water soak to disinfect. Rinse and dry feeders before refilling.

■■ Q. What is the purpose of putting feeders inside cages, how to attract specific birds, best times of day to feed?

For more information from Kammin about bird species, when to feed and how to attract specific birds, visit www.wbu.com/ springfieldil.

Bird’s-eye view Schoolteacher Judy Williams lives in an older residential neighborhood with established trees and teaches in a school where she can keep birdfeeders full throughout the school year. Williams says she enjoys watching cardinals, blue jays, Carolina wrens, nuthatches, chickadees, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, sparrows, gold finches, juncos (in the winter), and hummingbirds (in the spring, summer and early fall).

To encourage a wide variety of birds, Williams provides a variety of foods, including safflower, nyjer (thistle), suet and peanut pieces in a combination of raised-tray and tube feeders attached to trees and poles spread out with enough distance to allow the “shy birds” to feed away from the trays, as she says. To provide the most energy

for the birds and to get an occasional view of them feeding, Williams refills the feeders at home in the late afternoon for early evening and morning feedings.

As for the squirrel population, Williams uses baffles on the poles and provides squirrel houses away from the bird feeders. She also plans to install a squirrel feeder.

Williams’ favorite birds? “I love them all, but probably the woodpeckers because their color patterns are so unique, and gold finches -- there’s nothing like their bright yellow to say, ‘Summer is here!’”

For the hummingbirds If hummingbirds visit your region, your extra attention to maintain a hummingbird feeder is sure to be rewarded with a happy, healthy hummingbird population and the enjoyment their habits bring.

Make a high-energy food by bringing to a boil 1⁄2 cup of sugar and 2 cups of tap water. Maintain a gently rolling boil for one minute; cool, then fill a clean feeder.

This is less expensive than commercial blends and avoids harmful chemical colors. Feeders with a central tube are designed to keep ants and bees out. Keep that central receptacle filled with plain water. During warm weather, check your feeder every week or so to ensure it isn’t cloudy, full of bugs or fermenting. If so, empty the old mixture, clean the feeder thoroughly, and replace with a new sugar-water mixture.

Placing red banners and planters with red flowers near your feeding station will attract hummingbirds, as will a red feeder.

Foods with red color added are not recommended.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 17

New spin on fans: Bigger style, smaller bills

By ERIC CHRISTENSEN Creators.com Installing a ceiling fan is an easy, inexpensive project that just about any homeowner can tackle. Ceiling fans are a great way to add personal style to a room. And by making your home more energy-efficient, this small investment of time and money can create year-round savings on your power bill.

The first step is to pick the right fan for the room, so focus on the features that will have the greatest impact. First, let the size of the room dictate the size of the fan blades. Rooms under 100 square feet can be cooled with blades 36 inches long or shorter.

Rooms between 100 and 200 square feet can be cooled with blades 36 to 44 inches long. And rooms over 200 square feet might need fans with blades in the 50-inch range. Second, check the pitch of the blades. Fan blades usually have between 12 and 16 degrees of pitch, and generally speaking, the greater the pitch of the fan blade, the more air the fan will move.

Only after considering these details should you look at a fan’s style and materials.

The next step is to focus on the fan’s motor. An undersized motor made from inferior materials will lead to burnout, humming or clicking. A stronger, sturdier motor is worth the money. Look for the motor that generates the most watts and highest speeds.

Additionally, pick the fan with the highest airflow efficiency at each of its speeds. A precision die-cast aluminum motor will last longer and run quieter because it resonates less than steel. A die-cast zinc motor can run even more quietly.

Next, choose an energy-efficient fan. Ensure the fan has received the Energy Star rating for superior energy efficiency. Such fans move more air, and they use less energy than some light bulbs.

Finally, decide what fan controls you want. All fans come with pull chains and will be attached to a wall switch, but homeowners with mobility issues might want one with a remote control. And if your fan incorporates lighting, purchase energy-efficient bulbs.

Otherwise, fan’s energy-efficiency gains will be lost through wasteful bulbs.

After choosing a fan, it’s time to think about installation. Ceiling fan installation is a great beginner DIY project because if you are replacing a lighting fixture in the ceiling with a fan, the wiring is already in place, and the fan can use the same wall switch the light used. However, ceiling fans are often far heavier than lighting fixtures, so a new electrical box is probably necessary to support the added weight.

Remember that poor installation will result in lost energy efficiency. Inspect your lighting fixture’s electrical box. If it was not anchored to a ceiling joist, look for an electrical box with a brace that can be installed between joists in order to prevent a wobbly fan. Otherwise, secure your new box to the joist in place of the old one. Whichever model you purchase, look for a UL-listed metal electrical box marked, “For use with ceiling fans.” To further ensure a stable fan, make sure all connections are fastened tightly and check the level of your blades.

And, of course, be sure to turn off the room’s circuit at the breaker box before doing any work!

Finally, in order to maximize energy efficiency, use the new ceiling fan correctly. Turn the fan off when it’s not in use or when

no one is in the room. Next, clean the fan blades regularly to prevent heavy, dusty blades from unbalancing your fan. Lastly, choose the spin that is appropriate for the season. During hotter months, the blades should turn counterclockwise. People standing under the fan should feel a cool breeze.

And during the colder months, the blades should turn clockwise to pull warm air back down to the floor, warming the entire room.

By controlling spin, you can adjust your thermostat by a few degrees, leading to additional energy savings.

From sleek and modern, to warm and cozy, fans are built to suit every taste and every space.

Installing a ceiling fan is one of the easiest ways to save on your power bills.

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And by not overlooking some of the smaller, more technical de-

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PAGE 18 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

Find artsy homes for your favorite plants

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com While garden centers show off concrete and ceramic planters and wooden boxes that can serve as homes for your flowers and plants, there are far more creative vessels in which to place your garden and landscape blooms. Here are some of the top trends in artsy homes for your plants: ■■ Wheelbarrows. Ideally aged and weathered ones, perhaps those found for a few dollars at a flea market or yard sale, filled with treated soil. Your plants might even benefit from the iron of the wheelbarrow’s metal. If you’d like to grow edibles in your wheelbarrow, you might place already potted herbs and items such as jalapeno pepper plants in your wheelbarrow, and then fill it up with soil to make a natural, earthy presentation.

■■ Wagons. Don’t use a valuable heirloom Radio Flyer for this garden project, since antique wagons can fetch a fine price at yard sales.

An aged, metal wagon — again, from the flea market — makes a playful display vehicle for your potted mini plants and flowers.

■■ Birdbaths. A thin layer of soil may be enough for wildflowers to grow, or you can place small potted plants on top of the ceramic or metal birdbath for a custom cluster of colorful garden pieces.

■■ Tin buckets. Flea markets have these in plentiful supply. Old tin buckets may have once been the receptacles for the milkman’s deliveries or they might have once held firewood. Now they can hold your plants and flowers and add a metallic accent to your garden.

■■ Watering cans. For smaller bunches of flowers or herbs, a wide-mouthed metal watering can — perhaps last season’s watering can that lost a bit of its vibrant color from prolonged sun exposure — is an ideal garden-themed vessel.

■■ Rubber boots. Last season’s colorful or patterned gardening boots can be transferred from your garage out into your garden as a whimsical, bright holder for a single potted plant. And if you have several pairs of these, you might place one floral-filled boot on the side of each step leading down from your deck into your backyard. Use large boots for parents and small boots for kids, and

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A wheelbarrow adds rustic charm to your garden décor. each member of the family can plant his or her own.

■■ Rubber clogs. Small plants can be placed in these colorful shoes as well after you’ve nailgunned the shoes artistically into the sides of a wood shed or onto a wood garden post.

Terrarium bowls. Or old fishbowls. The glass may be stained or clouded, which makes them perfect for being filled with soil and then with flowers, herbs or green plants.

■■ Tricycle basket. An old tricycle gets new life when you wheel it out under a tree or into your landscaping by your garage door or on the side of your walkway, and fill the handlebar basket with potted flowers or green plants.

■■ Vintage suitcase. An inexpensive flea-market find, old suitcases can be perched on a stone wall and filled with an array of colorful seasonal blooms. Since the suitcases were so budget-

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friendly, you won’t mind if they get wet outdoors.

■■ Desk with open drawers.

Set this one on your covered or screened-in porch, with those open drawers holding cascading green plants and potted flowers.

Add in small metal décor pieces to add an extra element of texture and color.

■■ Bench with the seat removed.

An old unusable garden bench can have its seat removed and re-

placed by planter boxes filled with seasonal flowers, herbs or even climbing plants that grow up the back of the bench.

■■ Wooden pallets. These are a top trend in garden design, with some gardeners making furniture out of them. If you’re not up for making couches, you can flip yours upside down and fill them with soil and wildflower seeds.

■■ Teapots and teacups. These tiny accents add a pop of color

on a décor table or on an outdoor display shelf, and they can hold a small potted flower, cactus, succulent, mini ivy or ferns.

Look through the storage space in your garage and basement, and you might find the perfect tin boxes or other containers that can find new life outside in the sun, holding your pretty floral plantings and adding a touch of creativity, artistry and whimsy to your garden and lawn style.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 19

Think drama when decorating dining room

By JOSEPH PUBILLONES Creators.com Dining rooms are stellar rooms for drama. Just think of the exquisite scenes set in “Downton Abbey’s” dining rooms.

For foodies and aficionados of interior design, dining rooms are often the most important room of the house. Whether you love intimate dinners or enjoy large dinner parties, there are certain considerations. Do you entertain often, or do you have a hectic schedule and mostly serve preprepared foods? Whatever your scenario, the decor of your dining room is as important as the food that is served there.

Many older formal homes have separate dining rooms, whereas others are part of a great room or just a dining area. Whatever your home layout or decorating style, you have choices.

The shape and size of the dining table says a lot about the homeowners’ lifestyle and entertaining preferences. Choosing wisely will enhance the diners’ experience. Generally, rectangular tables are better for a large number of people. Oval or oblong tables are ideal for medium-sized groups of five or six. Square or round tables work best for those who prefer intimate dining. Most everyone loves a round table.

However, remember that when a round table increases in size, it gets wider, thus making it difficult for guests to talk to and hear one another across the table. A round table also needs to be larger than a rectangular table to seat the same number of people.

A general rule in choosing the shape and size of the table is to follow the architecture of the room.

For example, have your table be

The design of your dining room should reflect your lifestyle.

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similar to the shape and proportion of the room -- a square or circular table for a square room, a rectangular table for a rectangular room, etc.

For those who entertain often, the trend today is to use two smaller round or rectangular tables instead of one large table. This way, while entertaining, the hostess can sit at one and the host at the other. It also adds an intimacy that is lost at one large table.

A more casual and current approach to dining is a higher table (with higher chairs). Inspired by bar seating, this is popular among young families and singles who don’t want a formal dining look.

Countertops are also used for dining in order to make the best use of small spaces.

The most important factor when choosing a dining table is

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the size of the room. A table that is too large will make it difficult for guests to get in and out of the dining area. There should be sufficient room to pull out chairs (at least 36 inches) and move around.

Conversely, if the table is too small, the room will look out of proportion.

Materials used for the dining table are often dictated by the style of decor.

For example, more traditional styles rely on traditional woods, whereas contemporary styling might suggest a metal or glass table. The style of your dining room should reflect the look of the rest of the home and, above all else, your lifestyle.

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PAGE 20 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

Learn how to save, store and sow seeds

By CHELLE CORDERO Creators.com If you’ve been growing your own vegetables year after year, you’ve probably had some favorites. Particular plants flourished — the vegetables were high-quality — and you tried to duplicate your results in subsequent years.

Buying commercially produced seeds is not an ultra-expensive proposition, but there is no guarantee of being able to successfully replicate the crop or even finding the correct seed. If you decide to cultivate your own seeds each year, you will not only save some money, but you will be able to reproduce your favorite picks, and you will be using seeds that have already begun to adapt to your unique growing conditions.

Many of the vegetables you regularly grow will produce seeds you can save and plant for the next year. Choose non-hybrid plants for the best results; seeds from hybrid plants may not carry the pure genetics you want. Pick the heartiest of your crop, don’t choose the very first buds or last stragglers: If you select the most robust specimens for seeds, you will be choosing from plants that are adapted to your soil. Grow pure varieties and don’t allow for cross-pollination when planting for the best selection of seeds; grow only one kind of each vegetable variety in a small garden.

Let fleshy fruits and vegetables (e.g., squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons) ripen before picking them, and then scoop out the seeds, spreading them out to dry on a plate or sheet of wax paper in a well-ventilated area. Plants like beans and peapods need to dry on the vine until the casings are easy to crack open. Corn needs to dry on the vine until the kernels dent.

Some vegetables, such as lettuce, need to grow to be flowers so the seeds can be collected from them.

Root vegetables are biennial, flowering after the second year and harvesting in the fall. Replant them in the spring for to produce flowers. Discard seeds from any diseased crops.

To store the seeds: Clean them by separating them from their coverings, pods and chaffs; small seeds can be rubbed between your hands while larger seeds may need more rigorous methods, like friction against screens and straining. It is important not to combine seeds from other varieties or plants, and it’s a good idea to label them throughout the process with names, varieties and dates of collection. It is also important to keep the seeds dry and exposed to air while preparing them for winter storage.

Dry the seeds at room temperature or slightly below. Test larger seeds by trying to bend them, and if they snap, they’re ready.

Paper envelopes and airtight glass jars are best for storing seeds. Use the envelopes for small or flat seeds (remember to label them with names, varieties and dates of collection), and then store the envelopes in a dry glass jar with a desiccant. You can use baby food jars or other small jars to store large seeds like legumes.

Commercial desiccants (silica) are available, or you can use a small amount of dry powdered milk twisted into a paper towel. Store the jars in a cool area between 32 and 41 F. Properly stored seeds will keep between two to six years, depending on the fruit or vegetable. Peas and beans last two years, tomatoes three, squash four, cucumbers five and pumpkins six. You can test germination rate by dampening a cotton ball, placing it in a small dish, sprinkling 10 seeds onto the

Seeds from a favorite squash can be dried and saved for the next growing season.

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cotton, and setting it aside for a few days. If seven to eight or more of the seeds sprout, the germination rate is adequate for planting.

Put seeds you’re planting in the freezer for three hours. When you remove them, the warm air will wake them from dormancy.

Place them between damp paper towels for a day and then plant.

Veteran gardeners recommend holding back about 10 percent of

your seeds for the following year to ensure a continuous crop in case something happens to next season’s harvest.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 21

When you buy in bulk, you have to store food purchases smartly.

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Bulk-item storage area saves space, money

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com When you shop at discount warehouse stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale, you likely come home with enormous products — 24-count paper towel packs, 48-pack toilet paper packs, laundry detergent jugs larger than your smallest child or grandchild and cases of canned goods — and all of these oversized items need to be stored somewhere in your home.

It’s not just these mega-packs and stacked cases that need a home. At your grocery or gourmet food store, you might indulge in a wide variety of products sold in bulk. Buying in bulk means there’s much less wasteful packaging, the experts at Whole Foods explain, and “you save money because you’re not paying for the fancy label.” Many bulk items are organically grown, and some top items Whole Foods lists among its offerings include “rice, grains, flours, pasta, soup mixes, beans, cereals, trail mixes, nut butters, sweeteners, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, snacks and treats, herbs, spices, salts and peppercorns, teas and coffee.”

These items bought from the bulk foods aisles will likely not come home with you in packages as large as those paper towel roll collections, but they too need to be stored safely and efficiently in your home.

Don’t forget those bulk bins of fresh vegetables and fruits that you might buy as shares from a nearby family farm or organic food co-op. These perishable items need a place to live in your home as well.

Here are the top tips for creating your home bulk-item storage spaces: ■■ Create several storage spaces to accommodate your perishable and non-perishable items, and organize them by accessibility needs. For instance, onions, peppers, apples and other fruits and vegetables should be located close to your cooking areas, such as in baskets on a shelf or countertop. Toilet paper rolls can be stacked in your linen closet by bathrooms, and paper towel rolls can go in the basement or in your walk-in pantry. Having stations makes your bulk buys more accessible, which means you’ll be more likely to get your money’s worth with those perishable

items that could otherwise be forgotten when they’re too far from your cooking area.

■■ Think temperature control.

If your garage isn’t well-insulated, perishables stored on shelves there can freeze during cold winter months. Keep all perishable items in warmer rooms of your home.

■■ Think safety. If you have small children or pets in your home, make sure that open-shelving units don’t pose the risk of them getting into your bulk buys or of cans toppling from shelves, injuring them. Choose storage shelving units with doors on the bottom levels, childproofed for extra security.

■■ Purchase new, sturdy shelving units that can hold heavy items. Older shelving units can be rickety, posing risks of them falling over or shelves giving out.

Organizational shelf systems at home-supply stores now come with great features such as baskets that slide out like drawers and customizable dividers.

■■ Purchase new plastic storage containers with airtight sealable lids in different sizes to hold an ar-

ray of your bulk buys. And label them with not just the item name, but also the date you bought them.

■■ If you have a walk-in pantry, consider making one side’s shelving units your dedicated space for your bulk buys, rather than shoving items in among other products haphazardly.

■■ Designate a large basket or wooden box for your donate items; those canned goods that are still within their expiration periods but aren’t your favorite tastes.

These can be brought to your local food pantry. Any bulk pet items you bought that your pet didn’t like can go to an animal shelter.

■■ Create a method for when your stockpile gets low. Hang a clipboard or magnetic notepad on your shelving unit so that you can write down which supplies are running low and needing to be replenished.

■■ Arrange your bulk items with lots of airflow around them wherever you store them, especially perishables, so that they don’t spoil and so that they look more orderly if visible to others.

■■ Consider buying an additional refrigerator unit for your base-

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PAGE 22 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

5 keys to growing tasty, healthy tomatoes

By HEATHER SCHULTZ Creators.com Tomatoes are easy to grow.

Many times, unintentionally dropped seeds pop up into little seedlings without special care or attention. However, there are some simple tips to know before starting. These five will make your growing experience, and your tomatoes, that much richer.

1) Tomato plants are best watered at the roots. When you place the seedlings deep into soil, making sure they are planted up to the first leaves, it is time for watering.

Avoid watering the leaves. Water on the tomato leaves actually increases the risk of disease, which can eventually harm the plant.

If your plants are in the ground, then a soaking hose laid on or under the soil works well. Too much commitment? Then water the plant at the base of the plant and skip the leaves entirely. Water every five days.

2) Clipping at the “y” part of the plant branches will make the plant grow taller and produce more fruit. The “y” is the space between the main stem of the plant and the strong vines that grow off of them. These growths at the “y,” commonly called suckers, generally do not yield fruit and take energy away from the parts of the plant that do produce delicious tomatoes. If you pinch off the suckers early, they will not detract from fruit production.

HEATHER SCHULTZ/CREATORS.COM

Even beginning gardeners can grow tomatoes.

Simply take your thumb and first finger, and pinch off the offenders.

Remember to put them into your compost.

3) Pick your tomatoes a day or two before they are fully ripe or right after a rainfall. Picking tomatoes before they are fully ripe (you can tell by their bright, non-green color) is a good idea. It encourages the plant to then focus on its budding fruit, allowing more fruits to grow during the season. It also prevents over rip-

ening, which can lead to mealy tomatoes.

Another good time to pick ripe fruit is just after a large rainfall; the abundance of water can cause splitting. Splitting occurs when the fruit and its skin cannot hold the new liquid it takes in. Splitting brings nasty little insects that enjoy the open, rotting fruit.

Where do you store your almost-ready-to-eat tomatoes? Store them in a flat and open container in a cool, dry place, such as a

counter or open area in a garage.

Be sure to shuffle and rotate the tomatoes around to allow for even ripening. Also avoid refrigerating tomatoes. Mother Earth News explains that, “Tomato flavor declines at temperatures below 55 degrees.”

4) When you pick the fruit, try to keep the green stem on the tomato. Keeping the green top on the fruit can help prevent it from rotting sooner than it would have otherwise.

5) Cage and stake your tomatoes. Caging your tomatoes ahead of time and setting up stakes to hold their lovely weight when full of fruit is easy if planned and done early in the season. Cherry tomatoes require taller cages than regular or plum tomatoes.

In the center of the cage, place a bamboo stake: at least 9 feet for cherry or 6 feet for regular or plum tomatoes. Tomato plants should be 4 feet apart to promote air circulation for disease prevention. Place the bamboo stake in the center of the square of four tomato cages and tie each cage to that stake. As your plants grow, tie up the vines to the cage if low enough, or to the bamboo stake you placed in the center.

Also space your planting. Organic Gardening Magazine explains that, “Three weeks after you plant tomatoes in your garden, put in another set so all of your harvest doesn’t come at once.”

Bonus tip: Cook the green tomatoes that were picked or fell from the plant too early.

Larger green tomatoes can easily be cooked and eaten. Cut quarter-inch slices, soak a moment or two in milk, and cover the slices with bread crumbs. Fry in cooking oil until golden brown and serve warm.

Did you know? Tomatoes can be classic red, golden orange, pale yellow, clear white and even deep purple. Try to grow a variety for mouth-watering new flavors.

Create juices from bounty grown in backyard

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com When planning your garden, you’re likely to envision your tomatoes turning into delicious marinara sauce and your strawberries into your signature jams, your basil and parsley topping homemade pizzas and lasagnas, and your rosemary flavoring your roasted chicken. This planning stage is likely something you look forward to all year. And now there’s a whole new dimension to planning your garden for taste.

A great many gardeners are planting fruits, berries, veggies and herbs that will create or enhance drinks. It’s such an enormous trend now that Garden Media Group has included “Drink Your Garden” as a top interest in its 2014 Garden Trends Report.

“2014 is all about balance.

People finally appreciate that being in nature and in the garden is true bliss,” says Katie Dubow, creative director of Garden Media. “But now, they want the garden to do double duty: (be) a Zen oasis and the social hub for entertaining.”

Part of entertaining is serving garden-fresh foods in the farmto-table mind-set of top culinary masters and five-star eateries.

It’s a new mark of success when homeowners can prep a gourmet meal in their home kitchens — indoor or outdoor — with most of their recipe ingredients selfsourced, picked right from their gardens, with ultra-fresh flavors that flood the senses. And spectacular drinks, also created with homegrown ingredients, are on the menu as well.

The 2014 Garden Trends Report notes, “People are drinking their gardens using such superfoods (they grow), like blueberries and raspberries to craft cocktails and green smoothies.” There’s a health impetus as well as a “sign

of our success” impetus, since nutrition news touts the anti-inflammatory, fiber-rich, heart-healthy benefits of berries and vegetables of choice. The “juicing” craze is in full-force, with many homeowners purchasing top-quality juicers and blenders to create their own healthy juices and smoothies.

And, of course, there is a budget benefit as well. With your own garden every week delivering a

bounty of fresh produce, which is free once your initial plant, soil and nutrient expenses have been earned back.

AllAboutJuicing.com is a popular source for basic juicing techniques, providing motivating nutritional facts about the top fruits and vegetables easily grown in any type or size of garden. This site suggests the following nutrient-rich, antioxidant, antiviral,

antibacterial, fiber-rich and hydrating seedlings or plants be added to your garden shopping list: ■■ Fruits: apples, papayas, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries,

blackberries, raspberries, lingonberries, cantaloupe and waterSee JUICES on Page 24

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN ■ PAGE 23

Extra room over garage adds living space

By PAT LOGAN Creators.com Dear Pat: I need some additional living space for my family and for an apartment in which my parents will live someday. I was thinking of adding a room above my twocar garage. Is this a feasible project, and how should I design it? — Jen D. Dear Jen: It certainly is a feasible project to add a room or apartment over an existing garage. This is actually not uncommon now, as the poor economy has forced many elderly parents to move back in with their children. It is much less expensive to increase your living area this way

as compared with adding a room on ground level. Also, often the lot is too small to add another room on the ground.

Before you start spending any money for an architect’s designs or on contractors, check with your local zoning and building codes department. For example, there may be restrictions on how tall a building can be within a certain distance of the side lot line. Keep in mind that you will need stairs for access to the new room, which will increase the width of the existing garage.

Once you find you can build the new second-story room and not violate zoning, contact a construction engineer to determine whether your garage walls can support a second-

story apartment. This may cost a little more than just relying on a contractor or architect, but the peace of mind is worth the extra expense.

Most attached garages are constructed with a framed or block wall, both of which are strong enough to support a second-story room above them. A detached garage requires more careful examination. If it will support the room, it actually is easier to add the new room to a detached garage because you have four exterior walls with which to work.

The least expensive way to build the new room and to have the most floor space is to make it the exact same size as the garage below. Unless your budget is extremely tight, it would look a lot

Best to remove suckers from trees

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com If you see tin branches or sprouts growing upward and outward from your trees’ limbs, it’s not necessarily a sign that your tree is doing so well that it’s growing new branches. It’s more likely that these are suckers -- quickly growing “shoots that grow from dormant buds on older wood” explains Steve Nix, the About.com guide to forestry. They can be an indicator that the tree has an injury or dead wood above the sprouts.

Or, when they’re seen lower on the tree’s trunk, they may be a sign that your tree’s root system isn’t performing optimally, so your tree is trying to compensate by sending out new shoots.

They’re often seen on landscape and fruit trees, but they can appear on any tree, and may appear after the tree has experienced stress, such as enduring a drought or especially after you’ve over-done it with pruning or if the tree lost a limb during a storm.

It’s important to remove suckers from fruit trees, especially since the tree will divert its energy to these shoots rather than to the growth of fruit. And you don’t want suckers to block the sunlight your tree needs to produce its nutrients.

To protect the health of your tree and to keep it looking its best, it’s essential to remove suckers.

But you must do so the right way so you don’t inadvertently cause more damage to your tree or remove the immediate problem but encourage even more suckers to sprout up next season.

If you were to let suckers grow for too long, they might grow roots too deep, which might mean your entire tree has to be removed.

It can be a wise idea, if you’d like to keep your favorite trees or trees you purchased within the past few years, to hire a tree servicing company to fulfill this job.

Experienced tree technicians can immediately spot suckers that are safe to remove and ones that may have roots so entrenched that removing them would harm the tree. They also have the proper tool best to remove suckers by cutting, and they have the chemicals and materials that may need to be

applied to the wounds left after the suckers are removed.

If you do wish to remove the suckers yourself, keep these tips in mind: Use a clean, sharp pair of pruning shears to cut the plant sucker as close to the tree limb as possible. A sharp cutting tool is essential, since a dull one can shred your tree’s bark or the soft, healthy wood beneath it, leading to further tree injury and disease.

■■ Remove suckers as soon as you notice them to help speed wound recovery.

■■ If you need to access suckers high up in a tree, recruit a helper to hold your ladder so that you’re safe while climbing up and down.

Never climb up into a tree to remove suckers.

■■ Be sure to remove all sucker cuttings from the ground where they fall for a neater post-project appearance and so that suckers don’t rot near your tree’s base.

■■ Before undertaking this project, talk to an expert at your local garden center for advice on how to treat the bare wounds on your tree. You may be pointed to an organic treatment material or patch to help your tree recover well.

You can help prevent tree suck-

ers from growing by doing the following: ■■ Water your trees according to the advice on the tag that came with the tree. Over-watering or under-watering can create stress for the tree, which encourages it to send out suckers.

■■ Don’t overprune your trees.

Again, your garden center expert can advise you on the best pruning methods and timing for your particular type of tree according to your region’s weather conditions. Over-pruning also promotes sucker growth, while ideally timed and executed pruning can prevent sucker growth.

The Royal Horticultural Society says that suckering is part of the natural behavior of plants -- a way that they attempt to get their nutrition and water needs met.

But don’t make the common mistake of thinking that suckers fill out the appearance of a tree. Yes, your tree will look a bit thin and bare after all of the suckers have been removed safely and effectively, but the root and trunk systems can now work far better to nourish the fruit, flowers, leaves and limbs you’d like your tree to grow for its best appearance and tastiest harvest of fruit later on.

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also help to break up the appearance of a tall, wide, flat wall. With a heated and cooled room above the garage, installing a more efficient garage door can minimize the increase in utility bills to condition the new room.

Plan the roof so its line is at the same angle as the house. If this is not possible, make it different enough to complement the existing house roof. This can be accomplished with the slope, roofing material or color. The last thing you want is to have it look as if you tried to match it but just missed it a little. The same is true for window size and style.

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better to offset the walls of the new room back just a little. At least in the front, offset it enough to create a small roof area.

You can discuss it with your architect, but a target of about 85 to 90 percent of the area of the garage is good for the new room. On the two sides and perhaps also in the front, include a bump-out or maybe a bay window to break up the long flat walls. A small bumpout can provide room for a small closet or storage shelves.

This might be a good time replace your garage door. A more decorative garage door, perhaps a carriage-style roll-up one, can

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PAGE 24 ■ HOME, LAWN & GARDEN

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

Wet

Juices

(Concluded from Page 15)

(Concluded from Page 22)

to buy a dehumidifier that can automatically drain its water into a drain in the basement floor or into a sump-pump well.

melon for sweet summer teas and blended drinks. If you live in a climate that supports the growth of citrus fruits, you have the great advantage of orange, lemon, lime, tangerine and grapefruit juices to help you concoct delicious blended fruit drinks, add zest to veggie drinks and perfect many cocktail recipes that may require other fruits from your garden. And lemons and limes get used for garnishing, too, and celery for bloody marys.

■■ Vegetables: The health experts at Livestrong.com say, “Adults are advised to consume between two and three cups of vegetables a day. You can get a whole day’s worth in one glass of juice; five cups of chopped carrots or celery will yield about one cup of juice. You’ll want to blend different vegetables together to make sure you get a variety of nutrients, as well as a tasty mix.”

Nutrient- and fiber-rich vegetables to grow in your garden for your juices and blended drinks include carrots, cabbage, broccoli, sweet potatoes, celery, beets and bell peppers, which are truly superfoods, lowering blood pressure and providing lots of vitamin C, among other benefits.

■■ Leafy greens: AllAboutJuicing’s experts say, “Kale, spinach and other leafy greens make tasty salads, but they also add a vitamin- and nutrient-packed boost to the diet when processed raw in a juicing machine or blended into a healthful green smoothie.”

Wheatgrass has long been a superfood for juicing, with its indoles helping to prevent cancer, and its other ingredients benefiting health as well.

Always juice greens in moderation, since overdoing any attempts at healthy intake can work against you. Some health experts say that juicing spinach too often might in-

Sump pump Another remedy for a wet basement, or to prevent a wet basement, is to install a sump pump. If you do install a sump pump, you’ll need to cut a hole in the basement floor to install it. When installing a sump pump, always install an enclosed system. Standing water in a sump-pump well will inevitably lead to mold and mildew growth inside the well itself.

It will also lead to high moisture levels in the basement.

Waterproofing basement walls There are a number of basement wall and floor waterproofing solutions that you can employ to remedy a wet basement. Some basement waterproofing solutions involve painting a water sealer onto the inside basement foundation walls and floor. Alternatively, basement-waterproofing sealers can also be applied to the exterior of the foundation walls.

Creators.com Installing a home security system in your house offers many advantages. First and foremost, it provides an extra level of safety to you and your family. A home security system also provides peace of mind knowing that your home is protected whether you are there or not. A home alarm system also protects your home from burglaries that could cost you thousands of dollars in lost valuables and damage to your home.

When considering the installation of a home security system, evaluate the weaknesses in and around your home. Determine where break-ins to your property and home are most likely to occur.

An make sure your alarm system includes alarm sensors for fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

With a little upfront thought and a moderate budget, you can come up with an affordable home security system that will protect both your family and your home from thieves, fire and poisonous gases.

CARROT JUICE BENEFITS CREATORS.COM

terfere with calcium absorption, so they recommend juicing these tasty greens no more than two to three times per week.

■■ Herbs: Celebrity chef Seamus Mullen says in his book “Seamus Mullen’s Hero Food: How Cooking with Delicious Things Can Make Us Feel Better” that folic acid in parsley eases his joint pain by reducing uric acid. He also suggests growing other herbs like mint, which can be used as a drink garnish (in mojitos), and basil and

thyme.

■■ Fermentation gardens: “Fermentation gardens are the new chickens,” says Rebecca Reed, associate garden editor of Southern Living magazine. “People are growing hops for home-brewing (and) grapes for homemade wine” and also apples for hard cider.

Home-brewed beer and wine kits are everywhere these days, and gardeners love the we-made-itfrom-start-to-finish feel of growing their own ingredients and

crafting their own brews and vintages.

According to the Garden Trends Report, 1 million Americans actively make their own beer and wine, and buy berry and other plants to infuse their own vodkas, and keep their supplies strong for summertime sangrias.

Grow plenty of fruits, vegetables and herbs in your garden, and you’ll always have the makings of kid- and crowd-pleasing drinks on hand.

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Easy-grow carrots turn into healthy carrot juice.

ts

Perimeter drains For more drastic measures to remedy a wet basement, the soil around the foundation can be dug out, down to the footing level, and a perimeter drain installed. With a perimeter drain, crushed stone and perforated PVC pipe are used to funnel water away from the home’s foundation. After installing the crushed stone and PVC pipe, the soil is backfilled around the home, and the soil grade is made so the surface water will drain away from the foundation.

A perimeter drain system and pump-up ejector system can also be installed inside the basement foundation walls. This task involves jackhammering or cutting away a swath of the basement concrete slab around the inside perimeter of the foundation walls, and then installing crushed stone and PVC piping. The drain system is designed to funnel water into a large pump-up ejector system that is effectively an enclosed sump pump, which removes water from underneath the basement floor.